Suppressive effects of mouse interferon-beta on gene expression occurring in concanavalin A-stimulated mouse spleen cells.

Effects of interferon-beta (IFN-beta) on the gene expressions occurring in vitro in mouse spleen cells after the treatment with concanavalin A (Con A) were examined by Northern analysis. The results show that IFN-beta strongly suppressed the induction of IFN-gamma mRNA transcription and, interestingly, profoundly decreased the steady-state level of the T-cell receptor beta-chain (TCR beta) gene mRNA without any substantial effect on some other gene expressions, such as those of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes. These indicate that although the IFN-gamma and IL-2 genes are co-induced by Con A stimulation, only the former is specifically susceptible to the inhibitory effect of IFN-beta. Moreover, the expression of the TCR beta gene was suppressed by IFN-beta under Con A stimulation, suggesting that IFN-beta might work as a negative regulator in immune recognition by activated T cells.